NEWCOMER Nash made his debut last month with the song Drop It Down, which was a duet with singer Abel Miller and produced by Shayal.
The Birmingham-based singersongwriter’s track received a positive response and he now has big plans for 2018, which will include more tunes, live performances and eventually an album.
The new talent has made a vow to work hard and give audiences something a little different. EasternEye caught up with a star of the future to find out more about him...
When did you first get connected to music?
Music has always been a part of me from a young age and for as long as I can remember, especially Punjabi and bhangra. But I was really pushed towards it at the age of 11. I was always singing and dancing, and even started performing at that young age. So it’s kind of been a lifelong connection, which is getting stronger.
Who were your biggest musical influences growing up?
My biggest influences were the greats, the likes of Hans Raj Hans, Chamkila, Abrar-ul-Haq and Arif Lohar. The music they made and the sound of their voices inspired me to make different styles of music.
How did you feel being in the recording studio for the first time?
I will never forget being in a studio for the first time. I remember feeling really overwhelmed! I was a little confused by everything around me, including listening to myself on a microphone, but overall it was such a great feeling to actually hear what I had sung coming to life.
Why did you choose to do a duet for your debut single instead of a solo track?
I wanted to project both my musical backgrounds and fuse them together. As Punjabi and r’n’b was such a big part of me growing up, I wanted to mix them up and create something fresh. I think we achieved that.
What has the response been like?
The response has been amazing! It became number two in the iTunes world chart after six hours of being released. The song being quickly playlisted and supported on major channels has been a real blessing for me. I’ve had nothing, but positive comments for it, which is great and only encourages me to work even harder.
Will this be the kind of music you make?
I’ll be experimenting with similar sounds as well as a few other ones. I ultimately want to keep my songs different and offer up variety without compromising myself as an artist. I don’t want one to sound the same as the last. I want them all to have a different feel and vibe.
What’s the masterplan going ahead?
I want to take each step as it comes instead of focusing on what’s yet to come. Right now I just want to produce some really great music for everyone to hear.
What can we expect from your next song?
You can definitely expect something fun in the future to get you up on your feet and get the party started.
What are the biggest challenges you are facing as a newcomer in the industry?
Trying to get myself out there isn’t easy, but I believe nothing in life comes easy. I’m willing to go out and work hard for my dream to become a reality.
Your debut song is an interesting duet. Looking ahead, who else would you love to do a duet with?
It would have to be Chris Brown! I love his energy, vibe and music.
What are your big passions away from music?
I love boxing, training and spending time with my loved ones away from music. Family and friends are very important to me.
What inspires you?
The support and love from people has been the biggest inspiration for me. It is such a blessing.
What music dominates your personal playlist?
My personal playlist is full of different kinds of genres, but what dominates it I would say is Punjabi and r’n’b music.
If you could ask any living or dead singer a question, who would it be and what would you ask them?
It would have to be Michael Jackson. I would ask him what were his biggest struggles in life and how he overcame them, and what was the key to his success.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
Hopefully to become a successful worldwide artist touring the world. That’s something I would love to do!
Finally, why do you love music?
Music is my life and something that’s been so special to me from a young age. I love how it can make you feel and what you can make from it!
Raj almost wasn’t Indian, Tom Cruise was the idea.
The title? Kirron Kher just threw it out there.
Pigeon scene: Totally SRK winging it. Kajol freaked a little.
Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhna got added last minute. Can you imagine?
Maratha Mandir. Playing. Every day. Since 1995. Fans love it.
You might think you’ve seen it all in DDLJ. Raj, Simran, the songs, yes, we all know them. But there’s a lot behind the camera that most people have no clue about. Some of it was luck. Some of it Shah Rukh Khan just winging it. And some… well, Aditya Chopra being a little crazy. Here’s the stuff nobody really tells you.
How Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge became a Bollywood legend: 10 untold stories Youtube Screengrab
1. Raj almost had a totally different face
Aditya Chopra literally imagined an American guy and an Indian girl and had Tom Cruise in mind. But then his dad, Yash Chopra, stepped in and said, “Nope, Indian boy.” And then the story completely changed. Suddenly, it wasn’t Hollywood, but NRIs, family, love, and all the cultural stuff that actually hits you in the gut.
2. Kirron Kher named the film
That long, unforgettable title? Shah Rukh Khan thought it was clunky. But the rookie director, Aditya, heard it from Kirron Kher and went with his gut. And yes, she got a credit in the opening titles.
3. Script written in a month
Three years of thinking, then all of a sudden, the final script was done in three or four weeks. Can you imagine? The blueprint for the biggest romantic film of the ’90s, completed in less than a month.
4. Accidental magic
That pigeon-feeding scene with Amrish Puri? Totally improvised by Shah Rukh. Even Kajol’s shocked face in Ruk Ja O Dil Deewane was not planned. Aditya kept it a secret to get a real reaction. And it worked big time. Fans don’t even know half the story behind that moment.
5. Director hiding in a car
During the Zurich car ride, Aditya wasn’t just lurking behind the camera. No. He was lying flat in the back of the red convertible, flat out of frame, watching every move. Can you imagine lying like that for hours? Wild.
6. Raj’s leather jacket wasn’t a costume
Raj’s iconic leather jacket? The one every guy copied? Uday Chopra just bought it from a Harley shop in California and cost 400 bucks. Not a big fancy wardrobe magic, it was just a cool jacket he found.
7. Mehendi Laga Ke Rakhnaalmost didn’t happen
That wedding song everyone hums? Almost didn’t exist. It got added at the very last second, borrowed from another Yash Raj project. Imagine weddings without it!
8. Kajol’s towel moment
Kajol wasn’t a fan of that towel scene. She seriously didn’t want to shoot it, but the director insisted. And that white skirt in the song? The director said it looked frumpy. Manish Malhotra, the designer, had to take scissors and cut it shorter on the spot.
9. Shah Rukh’s prophecy
After reading the script, Shah Rukh told Yash Chopra: “This will define my stardom.” And he nailed it. Spot on.
10. The first “making of” documentary
Before YouTube, before making-of reels, they aired a half-hour documentary on Doordarshan.
Chaudhary Baldev Singh Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge Shah Rukh Khan Kajol www.easterneye.biz
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And then there's Maratha Mandir. This old theater in Mumbai. It's still showing the film. Every. Single. Day. For 30 years. Tickets are 50 rupees. Fans go to watch it like a ritual, some book the gallery for birthdays or anniversaries. People even fly in from abroad. Iconic, right?
30 years later, Raj and Simran are on stage in Come Fall in Love – The DDLJ Musical in Manchester. 18 original English songs. Same story. Same magic. New audience. And people are loving it.
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